Dauntless Monsters (Eric Coulter Fanfic)

One Little Thing

Hey everyone I appreciate the support more than you know. Hope you have all had a wonderful start to the year! And remember to vote, comment and follow. All feedback is encouraged.
Natt xx

-----------------------------------------------

Lunch finished awkwardly and training was made more difficult with the pain in my shoulder. At then end of the day we crowed around the scoring board for the daily ranking. I held my breath as I waited. I knew I wouldn't be anywhere near the top but I was absolutely not expecting to be at the bottom. At least Will was above the redline. I started shaking and my breathing became shallow. I needed to get out of here, I walked out the nearest door and eventually found my way to the edge of the chasm. I sat down with my legs over the edges and let the tears fall silently. I could never make it in Dauntless, I'm at the bottom, I'm gonna be factionless. It'd be so much easier to jump of the edge right now. My depressing train of thoughts was interrupted when I faintly heard some guy humming a familiar tune. I strained my ears in an attempt to work out the song. It was actually easier than thought. It was the Candor song that I had how did they know that? They must be ex Candor and from the same part of town that I was, but I don't remember anyone transferring from around there. Eventually the humming came around the corner and I turned to see that it was Eric. He stopped humming as soon as he saw me.
"What are you doing here initiate?" He asked coldly. I just turned back to the chasm.
"Every year at least one transfer jumps down here." Eric comments and sits next to me.
"Didn't think it'd be you though. Not after that whole knife thing." I look at him, what did he mean by that?
"Have you been crying Candor?" He asks. I just realised there must still be tears on my face. I quickly wiped them away, but stayed silent.
"If you don't speak Candor, you going to be kicked out of Dauntless." He said clearly irritated. That worked cause I spoke.
"I'm not a Candor. But it seems you were." I say softly.
"Ha, me Candor." He scoffed.
"Then how did you know that song?" I ask. He doesn't answer.
"You should be more careful initiate." He says getting up.
"Train hard and you won't be factionless." With that he leaves. I realise that he's right. If I work my ass off I have a chance of getting over the redline.

Later that night when everyone had fallen asleep I got out of bed a headed to the training room. I picked up a knife and focused. Clearing my mind I breathed out as I let the knife fly out of my hand. It clattered to the ground and I sighed in dismay. I tried over and over again until I ran out of knives. As I collected them I saw Eric standing at the door.
"Do you make it a habit to be places you're not meant to be?"
I throw another knife and once again it clatters to the ground.
"Back to being mute are we?" He attempts to get me to speak again as he picks up a knife from my station and plays with the blade. I watch him turn the knife over before throwing the knife at an inhuman speed at the target hitting it right in the middle. I pout and cross my arms.
"Try again Ritza." He looked at me with a slight softness on his emotionless face. He had actually used my name for once. It seemed out of place all things considered. I take a deep breath and focus repeating the same process as before. I hoped than my incompetence would not embarrass me, but it did and I sighed in defeat.
"Hmm, you're letting the knife go to late try letting go a little early." He suggested almost nicely, which from what I had heard was virtually impossible. I attempted doing exactly what he said and it worked the knife landing right next to the one he had thrown. I gasped in surprise and turned to see Eric face completely blank.
"Go to bed initiate. You've got work to do tomorrow." He left once again. He was a very confusing person, somehow he managed to change the little emotion he displayed as fast as he could throw a freaking knife. Ignoring his orders a threw a couple more knives with the same accuracy as before. It turns out that one little thing can change everything.

The next morning I woke up with motivation and energy, I may be at the bottom but I am prepared to shoot myself to the top. I'll do whatever it takes to stay in Dauntless or die trying.
"Hey Ritz, you seem awfully happy for a person at the bottom of the score board." Will said as we ate a breakfast and headed to the training compound.
"Well Will, I have a plan." I say.
"How are you this morning?" I ask.
"Nervous actually, I've never fought anyone before and I'm not exactly a strong person." He answered.
"Shit." I muttered, fighting was something I'd only ever done in the form of words. I had a mean punch because of the way I deal with anger.
"As an example to transfers who disobey orders the first fight will not be random. First jumper, Peter." Eric announced as we surrounded the fighting mats. Climbing onto the mat a quickly shot Eric a death look as he smirked at me. I knew he was making fight this idiot because I stayed out. Peter sauntered onto the mat and smiled evilly.
"You really shouldn't play with fire. Not everyone is blinded by you're pretty green eyes and black hair." Peter started a verbal fight I'm certain I could win.
"I would be flattered that someone called me pretty but coming from you anyone in this room could be considered pretty." I retorted feeling my inner monster come out to play. A chorus of ooh's played out across the room.
"Oh, this one has little bit of bark, I bet you don't bite." Did he just call me a bitch?
"Initiates! The fight will continue until one of you can no carry on. Now start." Four shouted impatiently. I put my hands in a defensive position Peter came at me and managed to grab my shoulder. He started kneeing me in the stomach. I wasn't sure if my shoulder or my stomach hurt more. Somewhere in the chaos I saw an opening. He had left his face exposed. I punched him in the face with my strong arm and he fell to the floor. I smiled that was fun. Wait, what? What kind of person thinks this is fun? I left the mat punishing myself for enjoying that so much.